Chapter 2

Sophie was nothing but a prop in their game.

At this moment, Sophie's heart felt even colder than the ocean water from that day.

This was the man she had trusted most, and the friend she had cherished most.

Sophie thought, 'What a sick joke.'

Perhaps sensing something was off, Jeremiah took Sophie's hand and frowned with concern. "Sophie, why are your hands so cold?"

She pulled her hand back and said flatly, "I'm fine."

Jeremiah didn't let up. He grabbed her hand again and cupped it between his warm palms. "Are you sure? You look really pale."

Sophie glanced at Alice, and a mischievous impulse struck her.

She smiled and said, "Maybe I'm pregnant too. Should I go get a blood test just in case?"

At those words, the hands holding hers stiffened slightly.

Alice's face first showed shock, then she lowered her eyes. A barely noticeable dark expression flickered across her face.

Sophie had been watching Jeremiah's reaction closely.

He stole a quick look at Alice. When he saw her head down and silent, his smile grew a little forced. "Sophie, are you really pregnant?"

Sophie feigned innocence and said softly, "It's possible. We had sex at the end of last month. If I count the days, the timing would be about right."

Jeremiah's complexion visibly changed in an instant.

Sophie smiled at him. "Honey, aren't you happy I'm pregnant?"

"Of course I'm happy," Jeremiah said with a strained laugh. "I'm thrilled you're having a baby. I'm just a little caught off guard."

As he spoke, he kept stealing glances at Alice.

So Sophie turned to Alice and said, "Alice, I guess we really are best friends, getting pregnant together.

"When our kids grow up, if it's a boy and a girl, why don't we arrange a marriage for them?"

Alice's smile grew strained. "Let's skip that idea. It's the twenty-first century, not some feudal dynasty. Arranged marriages belong in the past. Let the kids find their own love when they grow up."

Sophie pressed on. "But we made a pact back in high school. If we had kids of the same sex, they'd be siblings. If one was a boy and the other a girl, we'd betroth them. Why are you backing out now?"

Alice's smile looked painfully forced, and her voice had an edge to it. "I just don't want to force my child into something he doesn't want."

Jeremiah quickly chimed in, "Yeah, Sophie, Alice has a point. Let's not push anything on the kids."

Sophie smiled, a hint of mischief in her expression. "Fine, no pressure. But if my kid and Alice's kid fall for each other on their own someday, you won't stand in their way either."

"That's impossible!" Alice shot to her feet. "It will never happen!"

Her voice was too shrill and far too loud. Doctors, nurses, and patients nearby all turned to stare in their direction.

A nurse said firmly, "No shouting in the hospital."

Jeremiah immediately flashed an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry about that. She's pregnant, so her emotions are a bit all over the place."

The nurse nodded. "Then take good care of your wife and don't upset her."

Jeremiah nodded again. "I understand. Thank you."

The onlookers finally dispersed.

An eerie, suffocating silence fell over the three of them.

After a moment, Alice seemed to snap out of it. She realized she might have overreacted and smiled at Sophie. "Sophie, I'm feeling a little thirsty. Could you grab me some water?"

Sophie watched Alice force a smile with a face drained of color and noticed Jeremiah's deeply furrowed brow. She knew they wanted a moment alone to talk.

So Sophie smiled and nodded. "Sure."

Alice shook Sophie's hand affectionately, just like old times. "Thanks, Sophie. You're the best."

Sophie pulled her hand free, turned, and walked toward the elevator.

Just before the elevator doors slid shut, Sophie saw Alice turn away in tears and Jeremiah immediately chase after her.

Sophie took the elevator from the second floor down to the first, then slipped into the stairwell.

The moment she stepped inside, she heard arguing drifting down from the second-floor stairwell.

Alice was crying and demanding, "Jeremiah Wilson! How could she be pregnant?"

Jeremiah had shed his usual gentlemanly demeanor. His voice was low and rough. "She's my wife. Why wouldn't she be pregnant?"